Starting in 2024, all phones, tablets and cameras in EU countries will need to support the USB-C format. The decision by the European Parliament represents a defeat for Apple, which on Tuesday (04/10) passed a law that will require tech companies to ensure that every smartphone, tablet and camera has the same charger in the countries of the block. The rule, which was approved in June by the 27 member countries and will come into force in 2024, is expected to have a greater impact on the Apple brand, which will be forced to change the connectors to the more common USB-C format. For years, the American giant has been fighting change, claiming it would create mountains of electronic waste. However, analysts believe the change tends to increase sales of new Apple products, due to the fact that consumers are more interested in purchasing parts with a USB-C connection. E-reading devices, headphones, and other devices that require recharging will also be affected. Therefore, large companies such as Samsung, Huawei and Amazon will have to adapt to the new rules. The proposal has been discussed for years in the European Union (EU) after consumers complained about the wide variety of chargers. The European Commission estimates that the single charger will save Europeans around € 250 million ($ 247.3 million). In 2019, a Commission study found that around half of the phones sold in the EU had a USB micro-B connector. Another 29% relied on USB-C and 21% were Apple Lightning. Brussels believes that a standardized cable model for all devices could reduce electronic waste on the continent. gb (AFP, Reuters)
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